Heavy Rains Trigger Flood-Like Situation In Odisha’s Malkangiri; Connectivity Snapped, 23 Families Evacuated

Malkangiri: Incessant rainfall due to Depression over Bay of Bengal has thrown life out of gear in Odisha’s Malkangiri district.

Floodwater submerged has submerged the Kangurukonda Bridge amid a rise in water level in Poteru river due to heavy rains, snapping vehicular communication between Malkangiri and Kalimela.

The National Highway 326 and road connecting Kalimela to Padia have also been cut-off due to severe flooding. Similarly, areas such as Poteru, Kangurakonda, Mv-90, Mv-96 have been flooded. Flood-like situation was also witnessed on Kanyasharama bridge, sources said.

According to the office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Malkangiri received an average rainfall of 190mm, followed by Nabarangpur 70.1mm and Koraput 67.4mm in the last 24 hours. “The highest rainfall recorded of 221.2mm was recorded in Khairput block of Malkangiri district. Four blocks (Chitrakunda, Korkunda, Khairput & Kalimela) have received more than 200mm rainfall. The average rainfall of the state is 25.1mm.”

It further stated that roads and bridges are submerged at some places on NH 326 in Malkangiri district. “Kanyashram bridge and Challaguda bridge are submerged. Podia-Kalimela road affected. Police are there to prevent public from commuting over the bridge. Tehsildars and BDOs are on the spot to take all necessary measures. 23 families have been evacuated, sheltered and cooked food is provided,” it added.

In Nabarangpur, the bridge over Turi river connecting Papadahandi to Chandahandi has submerged and the traffic has been prohibited.

The SRC has directed to collectors to prohibit movement of vehicles on submerged roads/bridges till water recedes, deploy local police along with the local officers at the site to regulate traffic, evacuate people of low-lying villages if required, and arrange for cooked food for evacuated people.

The Water Resources Department said though there has been heavy rainfall in Ganjam, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts, there is no flood situation in Odisha.

Department’s Engineer-in-chief Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty said, “The status of reservoir which was not good till Friday, has now improved. There are reports of flash floods in hilly areas of the state. Several roads have been submerged in Malkangiri as it received over 200 mm of rainfall. Hirakud dam status is not good as its water level is 11ft below compared to last year.”

The regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange warning for heavy rainfall in several districts of the state on Saturday.

According to the IMD, a depression has formed over Northwest and adjoining West-central Bay of Bengal off Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts. Due to this, heavy rain is very likely to lash over the state for the next few days.

During the month of July, the state has recorded a deficit rainfall of 21.9% and the current spell due to Depression is expected to minimise the deficit and help the farmers for cultivation.